Dinner for the Lord Mayor of the City of London

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, the Honourable Ros Bates MP; The Right Honourable, The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Alastair King; British High Commissioner to Australia, Her Excellency Mrs Vicki Treadell CMG MVO; Consul-General of the United Kingdom, Mr Richard Cowin MBE; Dean of the Consular Corps of Queensland, Mr Peter Dowling AM; distinguished guests.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Graeme and I are delighted to be sharing this evening’s special dinner with you here at Government House, to honour our guests from London.

I am pleased to have this chance to meet the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Alastair King, who as the 696^th leader of the world’s oldest continuous municipal democracy, brings great expertise and business knowledge to this important role.  

We also welcome to the table, the British High Commissioner to Australia, Her Excellency Mrs Vicki Treadell, and as she leaves her post after almost six years, I take this moment to acknowledge and thank her for her efforts in furthering the interests of the UK and its people in Australia. In a few days, I look forward to hosting a farewell reception here at Government House, to celebrate her contribution.

…And I am so glad to welcome back to Fernberg the Consul-General of the United Kingdom in our state, Mr Richard Cowin.

Last, but not least, I acknowledge all of you here tonight who represent our state’s interests—here and abroad—and who are determined to make the most of our amazing ability and enterprise.

I feel very fortunate that during my term as Governor of Queensland, this is the second time I have had the privilege of hosting such an event for a Lord Mayor of the City of London, and I believe this serves to highlight the spirit of goodwill, and commitment to shared goals that continue to thread together our two country’s fortunes.

A focus on “community” is one of the key pillars driving the growth and success of the Square Mile as a global financial and professional services hub—one whose outstanding reputation as a forward-thinking centre for trade and investment stretches back almost one thousand years.

Such communities lie within the diverse companies, businesses and initiatives that are propelling innovation ever-forwards, but they also exist in the deep bi-lateral connections that are rooted in history and tradition, yet are enriched by the mutual quest for continual improvement.

The complex, fast-paced world we find ourselves in today places immense importance on these bonds, helping us step into the unknown with assurance, as we gain momentum and strength from each other’s unique talents, skills and perspectives.

This unity is both valuable and incredibly precious.

Lord Mayor, I am therefore delighted that you are bringing your entrepreneurial insight and expertise to Australia. Sharing such knowledge reinforces our close partnerships, gives rise to enhanced opportunities, and encourages a better future for everyone.

I hope that you enjoy tonight’s delicious tastes of Queensland—created by our Head Chef, Paul Newsham—using the very best and freshest produce from our local producers.

I wish you a fruitful and fulfilling visit to Queensland and Australia.